Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

Welcome to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit here at The James Cook University Hospital.

We are a six bedded unit comprising of four PICU beds and two high dependency beds, that looks after critically ill children with varying conditions. Each year we provide care for around 300 inpatients on our unit.

Our mission statement

“We are dedicated to providing a high standard of care which is individualised and family centred.

“Our experienced team delivers safe care with a positive outlook that is compassionate, kind and warm.”

Most children requiring intensive care are transferred from other areas within James Cook, or the Emergency Department. Some children will need to be transferred in to PICU from their local hospital and will be brought to us by North East Children’s Transport And Retrieval (NECTAR).

NECTAR is the region’s specialist Paediatric Intensive Care transport service which ensures that critically ill children (from birth to 18 years of age) are transported rapidly by an expert team to one of the Paediatric Critical Care Units we have here in the North East of England.

Research and audit

James Cook PICU contributes to the Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network (PICANet). PICANet collects information on all children in the UK who are admitted to a PICU. The information collected for PICANet contributes to finding out the best ways to treat and care for children who are critically ill, so that intensive care services can be better planned for and provided.

Parents of children admitted to PICU may be approached regarding research studies. Most of the studies we are involved in are national multi-centre studies. These studies will have ethical approval and are being carried out in other PICUs around the UK. Their aim is to improve the evidence base that informs best practice in terms of caring for children who require admission to PICU.

If your child meets the criteria to be included in a study then you will be given some information about the study. Whether or not you decide to consent to the study, your decision will not affect your child’s care in any other way.

Contact Us

Paediatric Intensive Care Unit
The James Cook University Hospital
Marton Road
Middlesbrough
TS4 3BWTel: 01642 854667 (Please try to avoid phoning during handover times which are 7.30am to 8am and 7.30pm to 8pm)

Ward Manager: Sue Thompson 01642 852773

Related services

You may also be interested in these related services from South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: